ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Least Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

There are five "peep" sandpipers: the semipalmated, Western, least, white-rumped, and Baird's. The least sandpiper is the smallest of the American shorebirds.

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Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

At-a-Glance

• Incubation: 19-23 days

• Clutch Size: 4 eggs

• Typical Foods: crustaceans, mollusks, and marine worms.

Description
The five species of "peep" sandpipers all look rather similar, but the least is the only one with yellowish legs. They also tend to look browner overall, and are very diminutive and rotund.

Habitat and Habits
This sandpiper inhabits mudflats, flooded fields, lake and pond margins, etc. They are usually on wet exposed mud, but not foraging in the water. The calls of this species are very common sounds in the mudflat community. Typical vocalizations are a drawn out, scratchy creeeekkk, sometimes drawn out into a rolling call.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Least sandpipers breed up north in Alaska and Canada. Nests are often placed in a hummock on boggy tundra.